Vrouw aan het toilet 1699 - 1760

Philippe Mercier’s print “Vrouw aan het toilet,” housed here at the Rijksmuseum, presents a scene rendered almost entirely in monochrome. The composition is divided into distinct zones—the foreground, occupied by the figures, and the background, defined by the bed and curtains. Mercier's use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a nuanced interplay of light and shadow, giving the figures volume. The subject matter—a woman attended by a maid—is treated with an eye for detail. Mercier uses line and form to delineate textures and shapes, from the folds in the clothing to the contours of the figures. The artist’s technique invites viewers to contemplate the structural elements of the scene. The arrangement of figures and objects within the space seems deliberately staged, suggesting that Mercier was interested in exploring the performative aspects of the subject. This tension between the everyday and the constructed invites contemplation of the broader cultural codes around domesticity, class and femininity. It reminds us that meaning is not fixed but is actively constructed through the interplay of visual elements and cultural contexts.